About Major Larry Beaton

Larry Beaton is a fifth generation Floridian and a fourth generation Palatka resident. He attended Palatka South High School and St. Johns River Community College. In 1970 he became a part-time dispatcher for the Sheriff's Office. He became a full-time dispatcher in 1971 and was promoted to supervisor in 1976.

In the 1970's Beaton served as project manager for several radio communications Law Enforcement Assistance Administration grants. In 1985 he responded to Flagler County to assist with communications with the "Palm Coast Fire Disaster" and was acknowledged by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners for his services. In 1986 he served on a Florida Fire Chiefs' subcommittee to develop mutual aid fire channels as a result of the statewide "Black Friday" fires. In 1998 he received a Distinguished Service Award for his communications work during Operation Firestorm and again served on a statewide committee to develop the Mutual Aid Radio Communications (MARC) units to facilitate interagency communications. In 2002 he received the Sheriff's Achievement Award for his actions during the Amtrak Auto Train derailment in Crescent City. In 2005 he received a Sheriff's Office Special Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the agency.

Beaton has been employed by the Sheriff's Office for over 36 years and currently holds the rank of Major, supervising the Communications Division, with a staff of 30. Beaton is a member of the Sheriff's Office Incident Dispatch Team and is certified as a Status/Check-In Recorder, Resource Unit Leader, and Demobilization Unit Leader. He serves as the Sheriff's Office Florida Crime Information Center Terminal Agency Coordinator. He is also currently serving as vice chairman of the Northeast Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force Interoperable Communications Subcommittee. In 2006 he received the Northeast Florida Regional Council's Award for Excellence in Public Safety for his work with interoperable communications.

In addition to his work with the Sheriff's Office, Beaton has also been a volunteer fire fighter since 1974 and is currently the Chief of the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department. He is an adjunct instructor for the Florida Division of Forestry in the Incident Command System.  He is active in the Putnam County Historical Society and is currently serving as President. Beaton is the lector coordinator at St. Monica Catholic Church and is a member of the Palatka Amateur Radio Club. His hobbies include collecting old post cards of Palatka and surrounding areas. He is an avid railroad enthusiast and enjoys train watching.  Beaton is an active member of the Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad Historical Society.